Effects of different organic fertilizers on germination and seedling development of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different liqued organic fertilizer sources on germination and seedling development of fenugreek. The experiment was carried out in a plant growth chamber at the Laboratory of the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Siirt University. During the trial, the temperature of the growth environment was maintained at 25±3 °C. The plants were grown under a 16-hour light and 8-hour dark photoperiod. As plant material, the fenugreek cultivar "Çiftçi" was used. In the research, wood vinegar (0,25, 0,50, 0,75 L/100 L water), liquid organic fertilizer of plant origin (100, 200, 300 ml/100 L water), bat guano (1, 2, 3 L/100 L water), worm compost (150, 300, 450 ml/100 L water), microbial fertilizer (150, 300, 450 ml/100 L water) and control (without fertilizer) were considered as factors. The parameters examined were germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, stem diameter, stem length, root length, stem fresh weight, stem dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, stem fresh/root fresh ratio, stem dry/root dry ratio, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, and seedling vigor index. The effects of organic fertilizer sources on germination percentage, germination index, stem fresh/root fresh ratio, and stem dry/root dry ratio were found to be statistically insignificant. The effects on stem diameter were significant at the 5% level, while the effects on the other examined parameters were statistically significant at the 1% level. In conclusion, organic fertilizer sources positively influenced early seedling growth of fenugreek, with bat guano and plant-based liquid organic fertilizers emerging as the most effective treatments.